A girl spins a Hula-Hoop at an Outdoor Adventure Day hosted by the nonprofit Redeeming the Family, for children who have a parent serving a prison term. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Jim Beckel -
THE OKLAHOMAN

When parents are incarcerated, sometimes these videos are they only way they can communicate with their children, aside from letters, because of financial restraints or distance, Fuller said.

Of the children who lived with their mother before her incarceration, 55 percent have never visited their mother while she was in prison, according to the 2012 annual report. About 40 percent haven’t spoken with their mother by telephone while she’s been in prison.

Since the Oklahoma Messages Program started almost four years ago, the group has sent DVDs to more than 3,000 children. Last year, the group sent DVDs to 823 children, Fuller said.

“To the kids, this is time spent with the parent,” Fuller said.

The group sends DVDs to children three times a year — Christmas, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Fuller said.

In October, the group will be changing its approach to coincide with the release of a new children’s book, “Marvin’s Shining Star,” Fuller said. The book tells the story of Marvin, who is in prison. His life is changed after he trains a black Labrador named Star through a prison program.

Each parent who sends home a DVD for Christmas will read the book, and the children will receive a gift-wrapped copy of the book and a stuffed black lab, Fuller said.

In addition to the videos, Redeeming the Family recently partnered with Oklahoma City University professors Joe Meinhart and Nicole Warenheim, as well as Bob Spinks, head of OCU’s master’s program in nonprofit leadership, to put on an Outdoor Adventure Day for children who are affected by incarceration.

The event was at John Nichols Scout Ranch and included a water gun fight, inflatables and a cookout to distract the children from troubles they may have because their parents are incarcerated.